Reported end date passed· Education

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY TOLERANCE TOWARDS ASIAN ELEPHANTS IN WESTERN TERAI ARC LANDSCAPE OF NEPAL

This project is developed in partnership with the Department of National Parks & Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and aims to address the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic on elephant conservation in the western Terai Arc landscape of Nepal. The project aims to strengthen and increase the effectiveness of the existing human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation measures through community motivation and economic incentives. This project will repair and maintain 80 km of existing solar electric fencing by mobilizing fence monitors and repair 20 watch towers. Technical assistance in the adoption of alternative nonpalatable high-value crops will be provided to 650 households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and HEC. Community-based early warning systems will be strengthened by forming and mobilizing 30 community-based elephant response teams in HEC hotspots in the landscape. An HEC database management system will be enhanced to record, analyze, and report HEC cases. Fifty local youths will be trained as trainers on human elephant co-existence (HECx) and 150 one-day HECx education sessions in high HEC villages will be organized by the new trainees. An FM radio program will be launched to broadcast elephant information to local communities and HEC messages will be shared via booklets, posters, and permanent signage. An assessment of community tolerance towards elephants and conservation will be conducted. The project will organize trans-boundary meetings and exchange visits between Nepal and India to strengthen cooperation. This project will directly benefit 6,000+ households and reach 250,000+ people through various program activities.

Source-reported status: completed. Timeline labels use reported dates and do not verify current activity.